Ebola outbreak in Central Africa declared Global Health Emergency as cases surge

Red Cross workers disinfect Rwampara General Hospital before handling the body of a person who died of Ebola, in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 21, 2026. Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/Reuters

Our correspondences 

KINSHASA/KAMPALA — A rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO), raising alarm among health authorities as the virus spreads across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and into neighboring Uganda. 

The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The WHO's emergency declaration, issued on May 17, 2026, represents the highest level of international health alert under global health regulations. 

Officials warn that a combination of armed conflict, population displacement, porous borders, and limited healthcare access is complicating efforts to contain the epidemic.

As of late May, health authorities have reported more than 1,200 suspected and confirmed cases across the affected region, with at least 264 deaths linked to the outbreak. 

The majority of infections remain concentrated in eastern DRC, where transmission has accelerated since the disease was first identified earlier this month.

The Bundibugyo strain is less common than the Zaire strain responsible for many previous Ebola outbreaks. Historical outbreaks have recorded fatality rates ranging from 30% to 50%, and unlike the Zaire strain, no licensed vaccine or targeted therapeutic treatment currently exists. 

Medical teams are therefore relying on supportive care, including hydration, symptom management, and intensive monitoring of patients.

Risk mapping of Health Zones in DRC as of 21 May 2026. (PHOTO BY WHO:Disease outbreak news) 

The outbreak originated in Ituri Province, where cases were first detected in the health zones of Mongbwalu, Rwampara, and Bunia. 

Since then, the virus has spread beyond the initial cluster, reaching parts of North Kivu and South Kivu, increasing concerns that transmission could expand into larger urban centers and neighboring countries.

Health experts say the outbreak circulated undetected for several weeks before laboratory confirmation, allowing community transmission to become firmly established before containment measures could be fully implemented.

Uganda has confirmed a growing number of imported and linked cases after individuals infected with COVID-19 crossed from the DRC. 

Authorities have reported infections in Kampala and other areas connected to cross-border travel, prompting heightened surveillance and emergency response measures.

In response to the escalating situation, Uganda temporarily closed its border with the DRC, allowing only essential humanitarian, security, and emergency operations. 

Travelers granted permission to cross are subject to strict health monitoring and quarantine requirements. WHO officials have cautioned that border closures can sometimes drive movement through unofficial crossings, making contact tracing more difficult.

Containment efforts face major obstacles in eastern DRC, where armed groups continue to operate in several affected areas. 

Health facilities and Ebola response operations have reportedly faced attacks, while insecurity has limited access to communities and disrupted critical activities such as contact tracing, safe burials, and patient isolation.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for greater cooperation from communities and appealed for improved humanitarian access, warning that violence and instability could significantly worsen the outbreak.

A port official issuing hand cleanser to boat passengers disembarking in Goma on Thursday.Credit...Arlette Bashizi for The New York Times

Global health agencies are scaling up emergency operations as concerns grow over further regional spread. WHO is expanding laboratory testing capacity, strengthening surveillance networks, and supporting treatment centers in both the DRC and Uganda. 

UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations have activated emergency response mechanisms to accelerate the delivery of medical supplies, communications equipment, and public health support.

Several foreign nationals exposed to the virus have been transferred to specialized isolation facilities in Europe for treatment and observation, underscoring the international concern surrounding the outbreak.

Health experts warn that the coming weeks will be crucial. With no approved vaccine available, containment depends heavily on rapid detection, contact tracing, community cooperation, infection-control measures, and sustained international support. 

Public health officials fear that if transmission continues unchecked in conflict-affected areas, the outbreak could become significantly more difficult to control.

For now, authorities across Central and East Africa remain on high alert as they race to contain one of the most challenging Ebola outbreaks in recent years.